LIVE UPDATES: East Tennessee in a deep freeze as winter weather advisory announced

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A winter weather advisory warns of the potential for more snow and ice on top of what’s still around after Monday. The National Weather Service issued the advisory from 7 p.m. Thursday to 7 p.m. Friday, warning that rain and freezing rain moving into the region could drop up to an inch of snow and a tenth of an inch of ice in some areas.

That precipitation, plus overnight temperatures in the teens or even single digits and wind chill, could cause pavement could result in slick, icy roads the next few mornings, so continue to be careful if  venturing out.

Here's what you need to know today as many nonessential functions have been slow to restart because of snow-covered roads and bitter cold temperatures.

City-County Building opens at 10 a.m. Jan. 18

The building will open but some services will still be unavailable:

• City Court will not be in session the rest of this week, but employees able to safely get into the office will be available to help residents with questions.

• Knox County Criminal Court will be closed Jan. 18.

KAT buses still suspended

KAT buses are not running today. They will operate severe snow routes starting at 11:15 a.m. Jan. 18. The final rides will leave at 8:15 p.m.

Severe snow routes are only along major corridors: Routes 11-Kingston Pike, 12-Western, 22-Broadway, 31-Magnolia, & 41-Chapman Highway. For more details, visit: www.katbus.com

Jan. 19 plans have not been finalized.

Knox County power outages are mostly fixed

As 2 p.m. neared and the temperature approached 20 degrees, the Knoxville Utilities Board reported 99.9% of its customers had power and only showed five outage zones affecting 160 customers on its live outage map. The Lenoir City Utilities Board reported no outage events.

Not all local power companies have the same process for reporting an outage. Here's how to let your utility know the lights are off and keep up with outage information at 13 East Tennessee utilities.

McGhee Tyson Airport is open, but cancellations persist

Knoxville's airport posted a photo this morning of staff de-icing an American Airlines jet, a sight the airport expects to happen often as temperatures hover around zero degrees.

While the airport is open and operational, representatives said several airlines decided to cancel flights in the icy conditions. McGhee Tyson had 25 flight cancellations in the last 24 hours, according to FlightAware, a site that tracks commercial flight data.

Fight information is available through the airport's website, which showed five canceled flights this morning, three on Delta Airlines and two on American Airlines. Several other flights were facing delays.

The airport encouraged passengers to check airline apps or websites for the most up-to-date information on delays and cancellations.

At 3 degrees below zero, TVA's system is stable

As the temperature in Knoxville hit the forecasted low of 3 degrees below zero Wednesday morning at 7:45 a.m., TVA's power system was stable. The pain point for its system will be between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., as people wake up and begin using more power.

The nation's largest public power provider saw 33,310 megawatt hours of power demand between 6 and 7 a.m., according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is above TVA's peak generating capacity of close to 33,000 megawatts. TVA leans on power purchased from other power companies when temperatures plunge and demand climbs.

For comparison, TVA's highest-ever winter power demand on Dec. 23, 2022, was 33,427 megawatts — enough to power between 20 million and 25 million average homes. The agency expects that record, and its all-time record of 33,482 megawatts, will be trounced this morning.

TVA sells power to 153 local power companies, such as the Knoxville Utilities Board, serving about 10 million people and thousands of businesses.

A megawatt is a measurement of instantaneous power demand, while a megawatt hour is a measurement of power consumption during one hour.

TVA asks customers to save electricity

This morning's freezing cold temperatures could lead to record demand on the Tennessee Valley Authority power grid. TVA is asking customers to do their part by being smart about their electricity use to avoid the need for blackouts.

Reducing the stress on the power grid was especially useful this morning.

The federal utility expects a demand to top 35,000 megawatts as wind chills dip below zero degrees across parts of the agency's service area, a spokesperson told Knox News. TVA's power system is capable of producing close to 33,000 megawatts and the agency has purchase power agreements with other companies for thousands of megawatts.

Ways to pitch in:

• Adjust thermostat to between 65-68 degrees, or the lowest temperature that keeps you warm and safe.

• Limit use of nonessential appliances and lights and unplug unused electronics

• Unblock air vents

• Postpone use of hot water

• Wait to run the dishwasher or washer and dryer until warmer times of day

• Open blinds and curtains during the day on the sunny side of the house and close them at night

• Keep warm air circulating with ceiling fans

• Wear more layers and blankets inside to keep warm

Parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopen

Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened at 11 a.m., though Cades Cove, Twin Creeks and Tremont centers will remain closed.

Most park roads are still closed including Newfound Gap from Sugarlands to Towstring, Little River, Gatlinburg Bypass, Cherokee Orchard at the park boundary, Laurel Creek, Cades Cove Loop, Upper Tremont, Foothills Parkway East & West, Wears Cove Gap, Old NC 284, Lakeview Drive, Greenbrier, Cataloochee Entrance and Tom Branch.

Knoxville garbage pickup is delayed

Knoxville crews have been unable to collect residential trash and recyclables. Downtown crews likewise could not do pickups today.

Today's cancelations and closures

• Knox County Libraries will be closed today.

• The Knox County Commission Audit Committee's meeting scheduled for today has been canceled. It will be rescheduled in February.

• The Knox County Sheriff Employees' Merit System Board of Directors meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled.

• Knoxville city offices and recreation centers will be closed today. City services such as KPD, KFD, public service crews and fleet service technicians will continue to perform their duties.

• The Knoxville Museum of Art will remain closed.

• The Beck Cultural Exchange Center will be closed and will operate on a limited basis the rest of the week.

• The Diocese of Knoxville Chancery will be closed.

• The U.S. citizenship naturalization ceremony that had been scheduled for today is canceled. The next Knoxville ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. April 25.

• Knoxville crews have been unable to collect residential trash and recyclables. Downtown crews likewise could not do pickups today.

• Disaster recovery centers operating in Tennessee are closed today. Homeowners and renters can still apply for aid by going online to disasterassistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app or calling 800-621-3362.

• The Knoxville Police Department's scheduled quarterly East District commander forum has been postponed to a later date.

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory will remain closed today and plans to reopen 10 a.m. Jan. 18. Staff who can work remotely are expected to do so, a lab spokesperson said.

East Tennessee schools are closed - some until Monday

So many school districts closed, some for the rest of the week.

Snow damages downtown Knoxville business

The awning that covers the patio outside Downtown Grill and Brewery on Gay Street collapsed from the weight of snow, and manager Brian Crabb told Knox News the restaurant took down the awning the morning of Jan. 16.

The restaurant was closed yesterday due to weather but is open today until 9:30 p.m., according to its Facebook page.

Stay safe in your car and in your home

There are a few steps to take ‒ and a few myths to avoid ‒ to keep your car running in the bitter cold.

You don't want frozen pipes or to feel cold in your own house. Take these steps now to be cozy and safe.

Power outages can be dangerous. Here's how to stay safe and avoid fires.

The three warming centers that opened Monday at Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church, Vestal United Methodist Church and Cokesbury Church remain open at night. The three centers served 123 people Monday, the first night. Call 211 or email the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability at office@KnoxTNHousing.org to donate money or food or to volunteer.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville weather live updates: East Tennessee wind chill warnings